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Commander: No country can trespass on Iran waters

Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the country's naval forces will never allow any country to violate Iranian territorial waters, PressTV reported.

"Transregional countries have a presence in open seas; but, we do not allow entrance into our territorial waters," Sayyari told reporters in the northern Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Anzali on Thursday.

He went on to say that Iranian naval forces do not violate the territorial waters of other countries, stressing that world countries are entitled to have their forces sail on high seas.

Sayyari added that the presence of the Iranian Navy in the open seas indicates the might of the Islamic Republic.

In recent years, Iran Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.

The Iranian Navy's 29th Fleet has headed to the Atlantic Ocean in line with Iran's policy to safeguard naval routes for its vessels.

The flotilla, which comprises Kharg helicopter carrier and Sabalan destroyer, left Bandar Abbas on January 22 on the Navy's first-ever mission in the Atlantic Ocean.